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For other places with the same name, see Stockholm (disambiguation).

Stockholm [1] is the capital of Sweden. It is situated in the south central part of the country on the border between the historical provinces Uppland and Södermanland (also known as Sörmland), on the east coast, between lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The municipality of Stockholm has approximately 765,000 inhabitants (2004), the greater metro area 1.9 million (2004). The population of the metro area grows by about 20,000 each year.

[edit] Districts

Most of the attractions in Stockholm are found in what Stockholmers call "innerstaden", the inner city - historically the zone within the city tolls. The geography of Stockholm, with its islands and bodies of water, makes for a natural division of the inner city into three major zones. Simply put, the mainland north of Gamla Stan - consisting of Norrmalm, Vasastan and Östermalm - can be said to form one district, the small island Gamla Stan and the large Södermalm another, and the island Kungsholmen a separate, rather small, district in the west. This division reflects how most Stockholmers percieve the city, although it is in part different from the formal administrative borough divisions.

Outside the inner city, the city has a mainly suburban character. The Municipality of Stockholm extends to the northwest and to the south. To the north, the municipality borders the towns of Solna and Danderyd, and to the east Nacka and the island of Lidingö, all traditionally separate entities.

The northern inner city:

• Norrmalm is the major commercial district, with plenty of shopping opportunities. Southern Norrmalm is mostly called City and is regarded as the absolute center of Stockholm, with the central railway station and the T-Centralen metro hub. The busy pedestrianised shopping street Drottningatan - a real tourist trap in summertime - runs in a north-south direction through the area, by the square Sergels Torg. Vasastan is administratively a part of Norrmalm, but most Stockholmers tend to think of it as a separate neighborhood. It is a rather large, mainly residential area that has recently attracted a younger crowd. The most central part, around the Odenplan square, offers some shopping and nightlife.
• Östermalm is an affluent commercial and residential area. The part closest to the city center, around the Stureplan square, is the place for upmarket shopping as well as nightclubs and bars for the jet set and those who seek their company. To the north and east, the tree-lined boulevards of Narvavägen and Karlavägen, bordered by decorated stone houses, lead to the Karlaplan square. The area also contains many of Stockholm's numerous museums. The Djurgården area of Östermalm makes up a large part of the National city park [2], a protected green area. Södra Djurgården (Southern Djurgården) is an island, often referred to simply as Djurgården, with some of Stockholm's major tourist attractions - the Skansen open air museum, the Gröna Lund amusement park and Vasamuseet. Norra Djurgården (Northern Djurgården) has a large green, Gärdet, and a small forest, and contains the campuses of Stockholm University and the Royal Institute of Technology.

The southern inner city:

• Gamla Stan, The Old Town, is the historical centre. The northern part is dominated by the Royal Palace and the Riksdag - the Swedish parliament. The rest of the island is a picturesque collection of old buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. The adjacent island Riddarholmen holds an important church and several old administrative buildings.
• Södermalm, colloquially referred to as Söder, used to be the home of the working-class, but was mostly gentrified during the late 20th century. The more or less bohemian area south of Folkungagatan has recently become nicknamed SoFo (with obvious inspiration from SoHo). Slussen ("The Lock"), the waterway lock between Södermalm and Gamla Stan, is a mass transit hub covered by road bridges. Today it is rundown, smelly and not as charming as when it was built in the 1930s. The major north-south street Götgatan, with many bars and shops, starts close to Slussen and passes Medborgarplatsen ("Citizens' square"), a major square surrounded by restaurants and pubs.

Kungsholmen:

• Kungsholmen is an island that makes up the western part of the inner city. On its eastern tip, the impressive redbrick Stockholm City Hall stands by the water. Further west, a collection of rather relaxed neighbourhood bars and restaurants can be found. West of the Fridhemsplan transport hub and the new Västermalmsgallerian shopping mall, the island becomes more suburban.
• Lilla Essingen and Stora Essingen are two smaller, mainly residential, islands that belong to the borough of Kungsholmen.

Suburbs and bordering towns:

• Västerort, the north-western suburbs, has both very wealthy and rather poor neighborhoods. Bromma Airport is Stockholm's small city airport. Vällingby was constructed in the 1950s as one of the first planned suburbs in Europe. In Kista, a centre of information technology, the 128-metre Kista Science Tower, Sweden's tallest office building, was completed in 2002. Unfortunately, the high floors are not open to the public.
• Söderort or söder om Söder, the southern suburbs, are almost as diverse. The most central part, around Gullmarsplan, contains several arenas: Globen (The Globe Arena), clearly visible from most of Södermalm, host ice hockey games as well as international artist performances, the smaller Hovet and the soccer stadium Söderstadion. Further south, Skogskyrkogården (the Woodland Cemetery) is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its architecture. The film star Greta Garbo is one of several notables buried there. One of the municipalities in the west, know for its art gallery and large lake, is Liljeholmen.
• Ekerö, a municipality consisting of several islands to the west of Stockholm, contains two World Heritage sites: the Drottningholm palace and the Viking town Birka.
• Solna and Sundbyberg, bordering Stockholm to the north, are two cities with a distinct history of their own. Solna is the home of Råsunda, Stockholm's largest soccer stadium, the vast park Hagaparken, the Karolinska Institute, a leading institution of medical research, and Solvalla, a horse-race arena.
• Danderyd, to the northeast, contains some of Sweden's most wealthy residential areas.
• Vaxholm (archaic spelling Waxholm), further out northeast, is the gateway to much of the Stockholm archipelago and a hub for its passenger ferries. It is a nice town with a great waterfront view and a picturesque small-scale shopping area. It also sports the Vaxholm Castle, today a costal defence museum.
• Lidingö is a largely suburban island to the north-east, mostly famous for the Millesgården sculpture museum (see below), Bosön, centre for The Swedish Sports Confederation, where several famous athletes work out, and Lidingöloppet, annual 30 km (18 mi) cross-country running circuit. Though just a few kilometres from central Stockholm, the island contains much green, quiet waterfronts and even a farm.

• Nacka and Värmdö, to the southeast, are residential suburban municipalities that contains large recreational areas and much of the southern part of the Stockholm Archipelago.

[edit] Understand

Stockholm is not the oldest town in Sweden, but after its establishment in the 1250s it rapidly became a national centre, with its strategic location between the lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city is in almost every respect the most important city in Sweden, even though more peripheral regions feel they survive quite well without the political centralism exerted by the capital.

The city contains buildings from all ages since the 15th century. Like the rest of Sweden it was untouched by the World Wars, but particularly between 1955 and 1975, hundreds of old buildings in Norrmalm were demolished in a large-scale modernization process, encouraged by similar projects in other European cities. Since then, little has changed in the architecture of central Stockholm.

Sweden's beautiful capital has a picturesque setting that makes the city unique. The difference between seasons is quite large, the summers green with mild nights, and the winters dark, cold, rainy, sometimes snowy, and with millions of Christmas candles in the windows.

[edit] Tourist information

• Stockholm Tourist Centre, Sverigehuset (Sweden House), Kungsträdgården (on the western side, close to Hamngatan) (T Kungsträdgården or T T-Centralen), phone +46 8 508 285 08 [3]. The official Tourist Centre has a lot of information in English and helpful staff. They also sell tickets to museums and sightseeing tours. Open M-F 9 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 10 AM-4 PM.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Arlanda Airport [4]: The main international airport (served by SAS, Sterling, BA and many others) is situated 40 km (25 mi) north of the city. There are several methods for travelling between Stockholm and Arlanda.
  • Taxis from major taxi companies operate on a fixed price basis between Arlanda and central Stockholm. Prices at the taxi stands currently range from SEK 395 (Transfer Taxi) to SEK 445. Generally, you can freely choose among the waiting taxis or ask the operator for a specific company. A taxi ride to central Stockholm takes approximately 40 minutes. With some companies, you can get a lower price if you pre-book your ride. With Airport Cab (phone: +46 8 25 25 23 [5]) the cost is 390 SEK from Arlanda to Stockholm, 350 SEK from Stockholm to Arlanda. Taxi Solna has had a similar offer (phone: +46 8 280 280). See the Taxi section below for some general advice on taxi travel in Stockholm.
  • The company airportshuttle.se [6] runs a minibus shuttle service to selected hotels in central Stockholm. The price is SEK 150 when pre-booking at least 12 hours before departure. Ticket can also be bought for 180 SEK at the Arlanda information desks.
  • The Arlanda Express train [7], which leaves from the lower level of each terminal, costs SEK 220 (SEK 110 for people under 25 years of age (tickets can be purchased from Kiosks at the platform, the train attendant may ask for ID for proof of age), two adults for 240 SEK during weekends and holidays) one-way, but gets you to the Central Station in 20 minutes and departs every 15 minutes during the day.
  • Airport coaches (Flygbussarna) [8] run frequently to and from the City Terminal, just next to the Central Station (approx. 40 mins) and cost SEK 99 (SEK 69 for people under 25 years of age). They make a few stops in the northern suburbs along the way.
  • The cheapest option is to use local transport. Bus 583 connects Arlanda with the northern suburb of Märsta, from where commuter trains take you to Stockholm Central. This takes about an hour and costs 80 SEK (52 SEK with pre-bought ticket coupons - or you can buy a SL travel card).

• Bromma Airport: A smaller airport 10km (6 mi) west of central Stockholm, mainly used for domestic flights and inter-European hops to cities like Brussels and Paris. Airport coaches [9] go to the City Terminal, price SEK 69. A cheaper option (SEK 40, SEK 26 with pre-bought ticket coupons) is to take local bus 112 to Spånga station, and from there take a commuter train to Stockholm Central.
• Skavsta Airport: Used by Ryanair and Wizzair. 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Stockholm, near the town Nyköping. Airport coaches [10] go to/from the City Terminal in Stockholm every 20 minutes. SEK 150 one way, SEK 249 round trip, takes about 80 minutes. Tickets can be bought on-line or from the cashier at the bus terminal.
• Västerås Airport: Situated 100 km (62 mi) west of Stockholm near the town Västerås. Serves Ryanair flights to/from London (Stansted) and Dublin. Airport coaches [11] go to/from the City Terminal in Stockholm. SEK 150 one way, SEK 249 round trip, takes about 75 minutes.

[edit] By train

The main station, Stockholms Central, serves both commuter and long-distance routes. It is located in the city centre, with an underground connection to T-Centralen, the central hub for the subway system. The major national rail company, SJ, has a travel planner and ticket booking service on its web page [12].

[edit] By bus

The City Terminal - Cityterminalen [13] - is the main bus terminal, centrally located and directly connected to the main train station, Stockholms Central and the T Centralen metro station. There are multiple daily departures to most other cities in Sweden, as well as a few international routes: Swebus Express [14] operates routes to Copenhagen and Oslo with several daily departures, and a twice-weekly service to Berlin. Eurolines [15] has some departures to Copenhagen. Smaller operators offer connections with Prague, Budapest and Zagreb, among other cities.

[edit] By boat

Ferries go to Finland, Latvia and Estonia every day.

• Silja Line [16] ferries to Helsinki and Turku leave from the Värtahamnen port, some 500 meters from the Gärdet subway station.

• Viking Line [17] ferries to Helsinki and Turku leave from the Stadsgårdsterminalen port in the south of the city. Expensive buses shuttle passengers to the Slussen subway station, or you can get there on foot by following the coastline north for a kilometre or so. There are also privately run (and more expensive) direct buses from the ferry terminal to the Cityterminalen bus station about 2.5 km away.

• Birka Cruises [18] go between Stockholm and Mariehamn on Åland. Ships depart from Stadsgårdsterminalen, see above.

• Tallink [19] serves the destinations Mariehamn on Åland, Tallinn in Estonia, and Riga in Latvia. Ships depart from the Frihamnen port.

A lot of European cruises have day long stops in Stockholm.

[edit] Get around

[edit] Public transport

Stockholms Lokaltrafik, SL (Stockholm Public Transport) [20] runs a wide subway, commuter train and bus system as well as some tram, light rail and ferry services, all using an integrated ticket system. There are passes available for 24 hours (100 SEK), 72 hours (200 SEK), or 7 days (260 SEK), stripes of 16 tickets (förköpsremsa) for 180 SEK and single journey tickets valid for one hour cost from 20 SEK (12 SEK if you're under 20 or over 65) depending upon the number of zones you choose to travel in - minimum amounts of zones are always two. When you purchase the 72-hour pass, you also receive free admission to Gröna Lund (see "See" below). If you are going to be in Stockholm for a while, go ahead and purchase a 30-day card, which allows unrestricted access to all of the buses, trams, subways, and commuter trains, as well as the Djurgården ferry, for 690 SEK.

The Stockholm Card [21] allows free public transport as well as free admission to 75 museums and sights in Stockholm, free sightseeing by boat and other bonus offers. Adult 24 hours 290 SEK, adult 48 hours 420 SEK, adult 72 hours 540 SEK.

The SL website has detailed ticket and price information, and a journey planner.

The standard of rolling stock varies greatly. Old, noisy, graffiti-ridden subway and commuter cars are being replaced by sparkling new ones.

[edit] Subway

There is an efficient metro system called the Tunnelbanan (sometimes abbreviated T-Bana or just T on signs). With exactly 100 stations, it is quite extensive for a city of this size and will get you around almost all the downtown places as well as most nearby suburbs. Trains run until almost 1 AM weeknights and 3:30 AM weekends.

[edit] Commuter train

The commuter train (pendeltåg) in Stockholm covers much of Stockholm county, as well as some locations in bordering counties. There are currently 51 stations. The busiest routes are along the Kungsängen to Västerhaninge and Märsta to Södertälje lines, with departures every 15 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes in the evening, and with extra cars during rush-hour. On the other lines, the service is less frequent. Commuter trains use the same tickets and passes as the subways and public buses.

[edit] Bus, light rail and ferry

Stockholm has an extensive bus system which reaches areas the Tunnelbana does not. Four inner city main lines numbered from 1 to 4 are operated by large blue buses, the other, generally less frequent lines, by red buses. There are also a few light rail lines, Tvärbanan, Nockebybanan, Saltsjöbanan, Lidingöbanan and Roslagsbanan where the first one goes form the west to the southeast part of the city and the rest from the city to the suburbs. There are also ferries going to Djurgården and Skeppsholmen. Bus and light rail is included in any SL ticket or pass, and ferry travel is included with any 24- or 72-hour pass, 7-day pass as well as the monthly pass. (The ferries to the archipelago, the airport buses, the Arlanda Express train and the SJ regional trains to Uppsala, Västerås, Eskilstuna and other destinations are not part of the SL network and thus not included in any of these tickets.)

[edit] Bike

Cycling is an attractive option. On a bike, a journey across central Stockholm's islands will take no longer than 30 min and is normally faster than travelling by subway or car. There are cycle paths along most major roads and drivers are generally considerate towards cyclists. Cycling is possible in winter when the paths are covered in ice, but extra care must be taken. In summer, bikes can be hired on Strandvägen where the ferries dock.

There are also bikes available in bike stands at different locations in Stockholm city. You can pick up a bike in one stand and leave it in another. To use this service you need to buy a key-card. Three day (minimum period) costs 125 SEK and a season pass costs 200 SEK. You may not use the bikes for more than three hours at a time. You can however borrow a new bike directly after you have returned one. More information about this can be found at Stockholm City Bikes. Key-cards can be bought at an SL Center.

[edit] Taxi

Taxis are on the expensive side. The Stockholm taxi market was deregulated several years ago, which made it considerably easier to find a taxi, but no pricing regulations are in effect. This means that small operators can, and sometimes will, charge outrageous prices. Try to stick with the major companies (Taxi Stockholm, phone +46 8 15 00 00, Taxi Kurir, phone +46 8 30 00 00, and Taxi 020, phone 020 20 20 20 - free number, national calls only) to avoid being ripped off. (Note that many other companies use "Stockholm" in their names, so look for the phone number 15 00 00 which appears below the logo on all Taxi Stockholm cars.)

If you hail a taxi from any other company it might be a good idea to ask for a price estimate before commencing your journey. Expect to pay about 100 SEK for a 5 minute trip. All the major taxi companies accept credit cards.

Authorized taxis have yellow license plates. Late at night in the city centre, you may be offered a ride with an unauthorized taxi, svarttaxi (literally "black taxi"), usually by discrete whispering of "taxi". Most of the time this will get you home for roughly the same cost as ordinary taxis - just don't ask for a receipt. These cabs are usually controlled by organized crime, and some unpleasant episodes have been known to happen to passengers, so try this at your own risk, and preferably not alone.

It's often possible to negotiate a price with a licensed taxi driver before entering the cab. In this case, it's implied that you won't receive a receipt, and the driver won't be paying any taxes or his employer. The money (paid in cash) will go straight into the driver's pocket, which means that you can often get a cheaper ride. However, if you don't know the area well enough to estimate the regular metered price you might get ripped off.

[edit] Car

Since the 1st of August 2007 car drivers driving in Stockholm between 6:30 AM and 6:29 PM will be charged a congestion tax [22] at 10 to 20 SEK. This will, however, not be applied to foreign-registered cars.

[edit][add listing] See

Stockholm has a number of spectacular tourist attractions, ranging from the interesting architecture of the City Hall to the stunning natural beauty of the archipelago. In the Royal Palace and the royal family residence Drottningholm Palace, visitors can get in close contact with traditions of the Swedish monarchy. Among the wide range of museums, the Vasa museum with its 17th century warship and the Skansen open air museum are unique experiences. Gamla stan, the picturesque old town, is a major attraction in itself, with narrow streets and houses dating back to medieval times.

(Directions in Stockholm are often accompanied by the name of the closest subway stop, using "T" as an abbreviation for "Tunnelbana" (e.g. "T Gamla Stan". This practice is followed below when appropriate.)

• Stockholm's Old Town, Gamla Stan, is the beautifully preserved historical heart of Stockholm. T Gamla Stan station is on the west side of the compact quarter, which is best covered on foot. Riddarholmskyrkan is a beautifully preserved medieval church.

• The Stockholm archipelago (skärgården) is one of the world's most spectacular. Stretching 80 kilometres east of the city, the archipelago comprises 24 000 islands, islets and rocks. Several ferry lines and package tours are available. Most ferries are operated by Waxholmsbolaget and depart from Strömkajen, opposite the Royal Palace. During the summer you can also use Strömma Kanalbolaget with faster and more modern ships, departing from Nybrokajen (by Strandvägen). Many will pass the picturesque town of Vaxholm, on the mainland to the northeast of the city, well worth a stopover if you have the time. The islands offer a wide variety of nature, from the lush green of the inner archipelago to the bare cliffs of the more distant outposts. Some islands have restaurants, youth hostels and country stores, while others entirely deserted islands. If you want to go on a day trip, Grinda is a good alternative; the ride lasts from 75 minutes to nearly 3 hours depending on your choice of boat. During part of the summer, Strömma Kanalbolaget offers a day cruise (11 hours, SEK 775 including lunch, dinner and guided tours) as well as a shorter, 2.5 hour boat excursion (SEK 190), both departing from Nybrokajen. The latter does not go far out, and you will miss the 'real' archipelago. Möja, Sandhamn and Utö are popular destinations further out. If you plan to go island-hopping there is a 16-day card entitling you to free travel (SEK 490).

[edit] Buildings and structures

• The Royal Palace, Kungliga Slottet, [23]. Built between 1697 and 1754 and located on the east side of the Old Town, the Royal Palace is open to the public. Tickets to The Royal Apartments, the Tre Kronor Museum, the Treasury, and Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities cost 70 SEK each, with the sumptuous Apartments being the main draw; if royal regalia is your thing, you'll probably want to pay 110 SEK for a combination ticket and visit the Treasury as well. Open 10-4 daily in the summer, 12-4 and closed Mondays in the winter.

• The Stockholm City Hall, Stadshuset, Hantverkargatan 1 (T T-Centralen or Rådhuset, buses 3 and 62) [24]. The city hall, where the Nobel Prize Banquet takes place every year, is an imposing brick building in the city centre. Guided tours are held daily, and allow you to see the impressive halls used for the Nobel festivities, the Blue Hall and the Golden Hall.

• The Stockholm Public Library, Stadsbiblioteket, Sveavägen 73 (T Rådmansgatan) [25]. Built in 1928 and designed by the famous Swedish architect Erik Gunnar Asplund, the interior of the cylinder-shaped main hall is spectacular, with three floors of bookshelves covering 360 degrees of circular wall. Books (both fiction and non-fiction) are available in many different languages, including English and German. On the cliff overlooking it is the old Observatory, which has a fine view of the city to the east. There is a small cafe.

• The Stockholm Globe Arena, Globen, Globentorget (T Globen) [26]. Located just south of Södermalm, the giant white sphere that is "the Globe" has been one of the most eye-catching features of the Stockholm skyline since its inauguration in 1989. The 16,000-seat arena claims the title as the world’s largest spherical building. It is frequently used for ice hockey games (se Do/Sports below) but is also used for other sporting events, as well as concerts and galas. Guided tours are currently available for groups only, by prior arrangement. [27]

[edit] Churches

Stockholm has a large number of interesting churches, some of them dating back to medieval times. Most of them are in active use by the Lutheran Church of Sweden.

• Storkyrkan, the Stockholm Cathedral, Trångsund 1 (next to the Royal Castle, T Gamla Stan), phone: +46 8 723 30 16 [28]. Open every day 9 am-6 pm May 21-September 29, 9 am-4 pm rest of year. Guided tours every Thursday at 11, free entry. Storkyrkan is the oldest church in Gamla Stan. Originating as a 13th century Gothic structure, the exterior was remodelled in Baroque style around 1740. The church is the seat of the Church of Sweden bishop of Stockholm. It contains two pieces of famous artwork: the 15th century wooden statue of Saint George and a copy of the oldest known image of Stockholm, Vädersolstavlan ("The Sun Dog Painting"), a 1636 copy of a lost original from 1535. 25 SEK except for visitors to services May 21-September 29, free entry rest of year.

• Riddarholmskyrkan (Ridddarholmen Church), Riddarholmen (T Gamla Stan), phone: +46 8 590 350 09 [29]. Open every day 10 am-5 pm June-August, 10 am-4 pm May 15-May 31 and September 1-September 14. Riddarholmskyrkan is one of Stockholm's most beautiful churches, and the only remaining medieval abbey. The structure dates back to the late 14th century. In the church, many Swedish regents are buried, including Gustavus Adolphus (Gustav II Adolf) and Charles XII (Karl XII). Adults 30 SEK, children 7-18 10 SEK.

• Tyska kyrkan (German church), Svartmangatan 16A (T Gamla Stan), phone +46 8 411 11 88. Open Tu-F 9.30-11.30 AM, Sa-Su noon-4 PM. Officially named Sankta Gertrud, this Gamla Stan church is the home of the first German-speaking parish outside Germany, giving some clue to the importance of German merchants in the history of Stockholm. On the site of the church, a German merchants' guild was founded in the 14th century. In the 16th century, the headquarters was converted into a church, which was later expanded. The interior is baroque in style, with large windows and white vaults. The church belongs to the Church of Sweden but holds services in German at 11 AM every Sunday.

• Klara kyrka, Klarabergsgatan 37 (T T-Centralen), phone +46 8 723 30 31 [30]. Open M-Su 10 AM-5 PM. Centrally located close to the Sergels Torg square, this large redbrick church was constructed in the 16th century, following the demolition of a 13th-century nunnery. The 116-metre steeple is the second highest in Scandinavia and the fifth highest building in Sweden, making it a significant landmark. The artwork inside includes an 18th-century altarpiece. In the cemetery, a stone commemorates the 18th-century composer Carl Michael Bellman, a well-known Swedish songwriter.

• Katarina kyrka, Högbergsgatan 13, phone: +46 8 743 68 00 [31]. Open to the public M-F 11 am-5 pm, Sa-Su 10 am-5 pm. Katarina kyrka ("Church of Catherine"), named after Princess Catherine, mother of king Charles X of Sweden, can be seen from many parts of central Stockholm from its location on a Södermalm hill. The church was built 1656–1695 and has been rebuilt twice after being destroyed by fires. After the first fire, in 1723, the church was given a larger, octagonal tower. Following a new fire in May 1990 which left almost nothing but the external walls, the church was faithfully reconstructed and reopened in 1995. Several notable Swedes are buried in the cemetery. The most well-known is former Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, who was assassinated in 2003.

• Adolf Fredriks kyrka, Holländargatan 16 (T Hötorget or T Rådmansgatan), phone: +46 8 20 70 76 [32]. Open to the public M 1-7 pm, Tu-Sa 10 am-4 pm, Su 10.30 am-4 pm. Adolf Fredriks kyrka, named after King Adolf Fredrik, was built in 1768-1774. The exterior is quite intact while the interior was radically changed in the 1890s. In the church there is a monument to the philosopher Cartesius, who died in Stockholm. Today, the church is probably most known for the burial place of former Prime Minister Olof Palme, who was assassinated on Sveavägen not far from the church. The grave can be found just to the south of the church building.

• Bromma kyrka, Gliavägen 100 (Bus 117 from either T Brommaplan or commuter train station Spånga), phone: +46 8 37 34 48 [33]. Bromma kyrka, in the western suburbs, is one of the oldest in Stockholm. It has also been voted the city's most beautiful. The oldest part was built as a round church in the second half of the 12th century. The church contains medieval paintings from the late 15th century.

[edit] Viewpoints

• The northern parts of Södermalm offer some excellent viewpoints with panoramas of the central parts of the city.
  • Walking eastwards from Slussen up Katarinavägen you will reach the picturesque street Fjällgatan, with a view of Gamla Stan from the east.
  • Monteliusvägen, a walking path that you reach from Bastugatan (north of T Mariatorget) offers a similar view from the west. Benches and tables offer picnic possibilities.
  • Skinnarviksberget, a hill further west, close to the Zinkensdamm subway station, is a good option if you prefer cliffs to streets. When exiting the station turn back and head to the north. Walk up a small street to the right and climb the hill. Look for the "Kattenvägen" sign.

• Kaknästornet, Mörka kroken 3, Ladugårdsgärdet (Bus 69 from Sergels Torg), Phone: +46 8 667 21 05, open 10 AM-9 PM September-April, 9 AM-10 PM May-August. The 155-metre TV tower, east of central Stockholm, offers a different kind of panorama from its viewing gallery. Adults 30 SEK, children 7-15 15 SEK.

[edit] Museums

Stockholm has more than 70 museums, ranging from those large in size and scope to the very specialized, including the Butterfly Museum, the Army Museum, and the Dance Museum, to name but a few. Among the most popular and spectacular are the Vasa museum (Vasamuseet), with its magnificent and well-preserved 17th century warship, the rather unique open air museum and zoo Skansen and the Museum of History (Historiska museet) featuring an extensive and beautifully presented Viking exhibition. The National Museum (Nationalmuseet) and the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna museet) both hold interesting collections of Swedish and international art.

• Vasamuseet, Vasa Museum, Galärvarvsvägen 14 (Bus 47 from T-Centralen/Sergels torg or the Djurgården ferry from Slussen or Nybroplan), phone: +46 8-519 548 00 [34]. Open every day June-August 8.30 AM-6 PM, September-May 10 AM-5 PM (W -8 pm). The Vasa Museum features Vasa, an original warship from 1628 which sank just after being launched. Retrieved from the water in 1961, the ship is almost wholly preserved and unique in the world. A must-see, especially since it is uncertain whether current methods of preservation will be able to maintain her condition in years to come. Adults 80 SEK, children up to 17 free. There are adequate lifts to enable those less physically fit to see all levels of the ship.

• Skansen, main entrance from Djurgårdsvägen (Bus 47 from T-Centralen/Sergels torg or the Djurgården ferry from Slussen or Nybroplan), phone: +46 8 442 80 00 [35]. Open every day 10 AM-8 PM May 1-June 20, 10 AM-10 PM June 21-August 31, shorter hours the rest of the year - but always at least 10 AM to 3 PM. The first open-air museum in the world, as well as a zoological garden specializing in Nordic fauna, such as moose, reindeer, bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. Located on the island of Djurgården it features over 150 historic buildings from previous centuries. Hosts and hostesses in historic costumes are a further attraction, and domestic occupations such as weaving, spinning, and glass blowing are demonstrated. There is also an "aquarium" [36] (not included in the entrance fee) with lemurs, monkeys, snakes, spiders, fish and Cuban Crocodiles. Adults 90 SEK June-August, lower other times of the year. The aquarium: Adults 75 SEK.

• Historiska Museet, Museum of History, Narvavägen 13-17 (T Karlaplan or buses 44 and 56 to Historiska museet, buses 47, 69, 76 to Djurgårdsbron/Historiska museet) [37]. Open May-September every day 10 AM-5 PM, October-April Tu-Su 11 AM-5 PM, Th 11 AM-8 PM. If you're interested in older Scandinavian history, from the Stone Age to the Vikings, you will want to visit The Museum of History. In the Gold Room, you'll find gold treasures from the Bronze Age to the 16th century. (If you're really interested in all things Viking, you might also want to consider a boat trip to the Viking town of Birka - see "Get out" below.)

• Moderna Museet, Museum of Modern Art, Slupskjulsvägen 7-9 (T Kungsträdgården and a ten-minute walk, or bus 65 from T-Centralen or Kungsträdgården) [38] . Open Tu 10 AM-8 PM, W-Su 10 AM-6 PM. Stockholm's museum of modern art is headed by Lars Nittve, formerly of London's Tate Modern. Although its Stockholm counterpart might not have as vast a collection, there is still enough to satisfy both the modern art buff as well as the curious amateur. Also, the building, by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, is a sight in itself. Admission 80 SEK (60 SEK reduced price).

• Nationalmuseum, National Museum, Södra Blasieholmshamnen (T Kungsträdgården) [39]. Open Tu 11 AM–8 PM. W–Su 11 AM–5 PM. For those more interested in classical art, Nationalmuseum offers pieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Goya, Renoir, Degas and Gauguin, as well as well-known Swedish artists such as Carl Larsson, Ernst Josephson, C F Hill and Anders Zorn. The museum also has a collection of applied art, design, and industrial design. The museum is situated in a beautiful 19th century building and has a nice café in its atrium. Admission 90 SEK (70 SEK reduced price).

• Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde, Prins Eugens Väg 6, phone: +46 8 545 837 00 [40]. Open 11 AM-5 PM (Thursday -8 PM). Prince Eugen (1865-1947) was the son of King Oscar II and an avid art collector. His beautiful palace on Djurgården is now a museum housing his enormous art collection spanning the 1880-1940 period.

• Nordiska Museet, Nordic Museum, Djurgårdsvägen 6-16 (On Djurgården, just after the Djurgården Bridge. Bus 44 or 47, the latter from T-Centralen/Sergels Torg), phone: +46 8 519 546 00 [41]. Open 10 AM-5 PM all days June-August, 10 AM-4 PM Monday-Friday (-8 PM Wednesdays) and 11 AM-5 PM Saturdays and Sundays September-May. A museum of cultural history from 1520 to our days, celebrating its 100-year anniversary, in an impressive cathedral-like building on Djurgården. Exhibitions focus on Swedish handicraft, customs and traditions. Admission 60 SEK (Adult).

• Nobelmuseet, Nobel Museum, Stortorget (T Gamla Stan) [42]. Open September 17-May 20 Tu 11 AM-8 PM, W-Su 11 AM-5 PM, May 21-September 16 M, W-Su 10 AM-5 PM, Tu 10 AM-8 PM. Located in the old Stock Exchange house in the middle of Gamla Stan, this museum has lots of material on the Nobel Prize, including videotaped speeches by laureates. Admission 60 SEK (students 40 SEK, children 7-18 20 SEK).

• Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Frescativägen 40 (T Universitetet or bus 40 from Fridhemsplan or Odenplan) [43]. Open Tu-We, F 10 AM–7 PM, Th 10 AM–8 PM, Sa-Su 11 AM-7 PM. The museum's collection is well-known around the globe and consists of animals, plants, fungi, minerals and fossils. The exhibits have been collected from the poles to the equator, and some were acquired during the voyages of James Cook. The museum is adjacent to Cosmonova, a large IMAX Dome cinema.

• Tekniska Museet, Museum of Science and Technology, Museivägen 7 (Bus 69 from T-Centralen/Sergels Torg), Phone: +46 8 450 56 00 [44]. Open M–F 10 am–5 pm, Sa-Su 11 am–5 pm. This large museum tells the tale of Sweden's strong engineering tradition. It is also suitable for small children, with the possibility to carry out your own experiments in the Teknorama section. Admission 70 SEK (children 6-19 40 SEK) Free entrance Wednesdays 5-8 PM.

• Kulturhuset, The House of Culture, Sergels torg (T T-Centralen) [45]. Main galleries open M-F 11 AM-8 PM, Sa-Su 11 AM-5 PM. Kulturhuset, a 1970s concrete building in the middle of the modernist city centre, is operated by the city and a venue for art exhibitions and performances. The building also houses the Stockholm City Theatre, a library, restaurants, and much more. On ground level there is an Internet café, Access.

• Spårvägsmuseet, Transport Museum, Tegelviksgatan 22 (Bus 2 from Slussen) [46]. Open M-F 10 AM-5 PM, Sa-Su 11 AM-4 PM. Maybe not for everyone, but still entertaining, Spårvägsmuseet is a museum of Stockholm's public transportation. Walking through historical buses and subway cars is quite fun but not enough text is in English. Admission 30 SEK (15 SEK reduced price).

[edit] Art

Beyond the art museums such as the Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum and Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde (see Museums above), Stockholm has a vivid art scene and offers plenty of opportunities to watch contemporary art in galleries, exhibition halls and public places. The Stockholm official visitors guide has a list of galleries. And don't forget to look at the art in the Stockholm subway stations!

• Between Slussen and Mariatorget, the Hornsgatan street has a narrow side section on the north side, above the main street, nicknamed "Hornsgatspuckeln" ("the Hornsgatan bump"), with a lot of galleries. Some examples are the ceramics and glassware gallery blås & knåda (Hornsgatan 26, Phone: +46 8 642 77 67) and Grafiska Sällskapet ("The Graphic society", Hornsgatan 6, Phone: +46 8 643 88 04).

• In the last few years, several trendsetting galleries for contemporary art have opened around Hudiksvallsgatan in Vasastan (T St Eriksplan). Among them are Brändström & Stene (Hudiksvallsgatan 6, Phone: +46 8 660 41 53 [47]), Andréhn-Schiptjenko (Hudiksvallsgatan 8, Phone: +46 8 612 00 75 [48]), Natalia Goldin Gallery (Hudiksvallsgatan 8, Phone: +46 8 411 94 13) and ALP (Torsgatan 41 [49]).

• Östermalm is another gallery district, even though the outlets are a little further apart. Sturegatan and Karlavägen are two streets with several galleries.

• Bonniers konsthall, Torsgatan 19 (T St Eriksplan), phone: +46 8 736 42 48. Open W 11 AM-8 PM, Th-Su 11 AM-5 PM (closed during the summer). This new exhibition hall, opened in 2005 by the Bonnier family, owners of Sweden's largest media empire, showcases Swedish and international contemporary art. Adults 40 SEK.

• Färgfabriken, Lövholmsbrinken 1 (T Liljeholmen, Tvärbanan tram Trekanten), phone: +46 8 645 07 07 [50]. Open Thursday-Sunday noon-6 PM (closed for much of the summer). Färgfabriken is an exhibition hall housed in an old colour factory from 1889 (the name translates to "the colour factory"), calling itself "laboratory of the contemporary". It is perhaps one of Sweden's most interesting scenes for contemporary art. Unfortunately, it is closed for most of the summer.

• Tensta konsthall, Taxingegränd 10 (T Tensta), phone: +46 8 36 07 63 [51]. Open Tuesday-Sunday noon-5 PM (closed for much of the summer). Tensta Konsthall, an exhibition hall in the multicultural western suburb of Tensta, opened in 1998 and has been met with much interest from critics for its contemporary art exhibitions.

• The two major art university colleges in Stockholm hold regular exhibitions where the Swedish artists of tomorrow show off their talent. Information about upcoming events are available in English on their web sites:
  • The Royal University College of Fine Arts - Kungliga konsthögskolan, Flaggmansvägen 1, Skeppsholmen (T Kungsträdgården or bus 65 from Vasagatan), phone: +46 8 614 40 00. [52]
  • Konstfack - University College of Art, Crafts and Design, LM Ericssons väg 14 (T Telefonplan), phone: +46 8 450 41 00. [53]

• The Stockholm subway has plenty of artistic decoration in its stations, and promotes itself as "the world’s longest art exhibition". Some of the most interesting features are the moody dark blue cave of Kungsträdgården with details from the former palace Makalös, the giant black and white "drawings" by Siri Derkert at Östermalmstorg and the celebration of science and technology at Tekniska Högskolan. In the suburbs, Rissne has a fascinating timeline of human history on its walls.

• Among the most controversial new pieces of public art in Stockholm in recent years is the monument to Raoul Wallenberg between the adjacent squares Nybroplan and Berzelii Park (T Kungsträdgården or T Östermalmstorg). The sculpture group, consisting of twelve low black figures, by the Danish artist Kirsten Ortwed, inaugurated in 2001, has been both praised and compared to human feces.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Walking

Stockholm is a city easily enjoyed by foot, with rather few steep streets. Walk around, and be sure to enjoy the beautiful panoramas, either from the viewpoints listed in the See section, or from one of the bars and restaurants with good views: Gondolen, Herman's or the penthouse lounge of Sjöfartshotellet on Södermalm, or the SAS Radisson Hotel Skybar on Norrmalm.

[edit] Swimming

You are never far from water in Stockholm. There are several beaches in the inner city. They might be crowded when Swedish people have time off, but you will surely find some place.

• The island Långholmen (T Hornstull) has several good spots, including a small sandy beach.
• The largest beach in inner-city Stockholm is the child-friendly Smedsuddsbadet (T Fridhemsplan), next to the Rålambshovsparken Park.
• Fredhällsbadet (T Kristineberg) is a rocky beach on western Kungsholmen.

If the water in Lake Mälaren is too cold for your tastes, you can opt for one of the outdoor swimming pools:

• Eriksdalsbadet, Hammarby Slussväg 20 (T Skanstull), phone: +46 8 508 40 258 [54]. Offers both indoor and outdoor Olympic-size swimming pools.
• Vanadisbadet, Sveavägen 142 (T Rådmansgatan), phone: +46 8 34 33 00 [55]. Vanadisbadet has an adventure swimming pool with water slides and spa services.

Stockholm also has several indoor swimming pools and spas in very special settings:

• Storkyrkobadet, Svartmangatan 20-22 (T Gamla Stan), phone: +46 8 20 90 27 [56]. Open for men 5-8 PM Tu, F, Su, for women 5-8 PM M and Th (closed during summer). A small secret hidden in what once was a wine cellar in the old town, where you can take a bath under 18th century vaults. Note that men and women cannot visit the bath together. Adults 40 SEK, includes entrance to pool and sauna.
• Centralbadet, Drottninggatan 88 - entrance from the courtyard (T Hötorget), phone: +46 8 545 213 15 [57]. Open M-F 6 AM-8 PM, Sa 8 AM-8 PM, Su 8 AM-5 PM. Located in one of Stockholm's most beautiful art noveau buildings, this is a place where you can go for a swim, have a beer in the sauna bar or enjoy a full spa treatment. Rather expensive and sometimes crowded on weekends. Adults 110 SEK (150 SEK F and Sa after 3 PM) includes entrance to pool, jacuzzi, gym and saunas. "Breakfast bath" including breakfast M-F 7-10 AM 160 SEK, Sa-Su 8-11 AM 195 SEK. Most spa treatments 350-700 SEK.
• Sturebadet, Sturegallerian 36 (T Östermalmstorg), phone: +46 8 545 015 00 [58]. Open M-F 06.30 AM-10 PM, Sa-Su 9 AM-7 PM. Considering the fact that the entrance is located in the exclusive Östermalm shopping centre Sturegallerian, it is hardly a surprise that Sturebadet is the most exclusive spa in central Stockholm. For those who can afford it, this place offers luxury in a listed 1880s building (faithfully reconstructed after a fire in 1985). 495 SEK (395 SEK M-Th 1 PM-4 PM) includes rented towel, robe and slippers, and entrance to pool, spa-section, gym and saunas. Most spa treatments 540 SEK and upwards.

[edit] Sports

Stockholm is home to several elite sports teams, and if you're a sports fan you might want to watch a game. The most popular spectator sports are football (soccer) and ice hockey. Also, bandy has something of a cult following. Tickets for all games can be bought online from Ticnet.

[edit] Football (soccer)

The Swedish top football league, Allsvenskan, is considerably weaker than most of its Western European sister leagues, and Swedish teams generally struggle in the European cups. The fans don't seem to mind that much, and the games can still be an exciting experience. Unlike in continental Europe, the football season starts in April and ends in October. There are currently three teams from Stockholm in Allsvenskan:

• AIK plays their home games at the large Råsunda stadium, Solnavägen 51 (T Solna Centrum), a national football stadium in the north-western bordering town of Solna.
• Djurgården plays their home games at Stockholms stadion, Lidingövägen/Vallhallavägen (T Stadion), a rather small redbrick stadium on Östermalm, built for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.
• Hammarby plays their home games at Söderstadion, Arenavägen (T Globen), a 1950s stadium just south of the inner city.

[edit] Ice hockey

The Swedish top ice hockey league, Elitserien, is the second best in the world. The season starts at the end of September and ends with finals in April. Stockholm currently has only one team in Elitserien:

• Djurgården plays some of their home games in Globen - the giant Stockholm Globe Arena - and others at the smaller, neighbouring Hovet, both Arenavägen (T Globen).
• AIK and Hammarby play in the second division. They both play their home games at Hovet.

[edit] Bandy

Bandy is a sport popular mainly in Sweden, Finland and Russia, played outdoors on ice with stick and a small ball. The field is roughly as large as a soccer field, and the rules show some similarities. If you visit Stockholm sometime from November to February, and want an exotic experience, this is for you. Remember to dress warm - the game is played in two 45-minute halves. Stockholm currently has only one team in the top bandy league:

• Hammarby plays their home games at Zinkensdamms IP, Ringvägen 16 (T Zinkensdamm), on Södermalm.

[edit] Sporting events

There are several big sporting events taking place in Stockholm. One of the most visible is the Stockholm Marathon [59], held annually on a Saturday in late May or early June, when some 18 000 participants run two laps around the inner city, while the Stockholmers gather on the sidewalks to cheer.

• Stockholm Marathon 2008, May 31
• Stockholm Marathon 2009, May 30 (preliminary date)

[edit] Cinemas

There are many cinemas in Stockholm. With the exception of children's movies, films aren't dubbed but subtitled, so if your English is good enough this is a good way to pass some time. Many cinemas are THX certified. A ticket is around 90 SEK.

Many of Stockholm's most charming classic cinemas have been closed in recent years, victims of the competition from modern multiplex screens. The elegant Röda Kvarn on Biblioteksgatan was recently transformed into an Urban Outfitters store, and Astoria Nybrogatan was closed following the bankruptcy of Astoria Cinemas in 2007. A few splendid venues are especially worth a visit – while they are still around.

• Skandia, Drottninggatan 82 (T Hötorget). This 1850s building houses a 1920s cinema designed by the Stockholm Public Library architect Erik Gunnar Asplund. A beautiful and intimate setting.

[edit] Amusement park

• Gröna Lund, Lilla Allmänna Gränd 9 (Bus 44 or 47, the latter from Sergels Torg, or the Djurgården Ferry from Slussen or Nybroplan), phone: +46 8 587 501 00 [60]. Open at least noon-11 PM most days June-August, shorter hours May and early September. Djurgården has Stockholm's only amusement park, with more or less standard attractions and games. The restaurants in the park are expensive and generally far from a culinary experience. Note that no rides are included in the entrance fee. Adults 60 SEK (120 SEK from 6 PM concert nights, usually Fridays). Rides 20-60 SEK with single tickets, day pass 260 SEK.

[edit] Gambling

• Casino Cosmopol, Kungsgatan 65 (T T-Centralen) phone: +46 8 781 88 00 [61]. Open every day 1 PM-5 AM. Minimum 20 years of age, photo ID required. If you find yourself longing for an international casino, the Swedish state has heard your needs. In 2003 Stockholm’s first and only casino was opened, drawing a rather diverse crowd. There is a restaurant in the casino as well. Entrance 30 SEK. Dress code recommended.

[edit] LGBT events

Attitudes towards homosexuality are generally tolerant. In the summer, there is an annual LGBT pride festival, Stockholm Pride, which is the largest in Scandinavia.

• Stockholm Europride 2008, July 25 - August 3 [62]. In 2008, Stockholm Pride is the host of Europride. Tickets (600 SEK) can be bought online at Ticnet. The huge Pride Parade will go through the centre of Stockholm on August 2.

The national LGBT organization, RFSL, can provide information on other events and venues.

[edit] Learn

With about 80,000 university students at more than twenty universities and university colleges, Stockholm is the largest university city in the Nordic countries. The largest institutions of higher education are Stockholm University (Stockholms universitet), the Royal Institute of Technology (Kungliga tekniska högskolan), and Södertörn University College (Södertörns högskola). Karolinska institutet is a world-class medical university. There are also several fine arts university colleges. Study in Stockholm has information about university studies in Stockholm.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Sweden is internationally well-known for its design, and Stockholm has many stores where you can find Swedish-designed clothes, textiles and interior decoration items. Hand-made and hand-painted glassware is also a famous Swedish speciality.

Popular Swedish clothing brands that you can find in several major stores include Acne Jeans, WESC, J Lindeberg, Whyred, Tiger and Filippa K. Recent years has seen an explosion of young designers starting their own small labels. Many of these can be found in the small shops in the SoFo area (see below). Examples are Nakkna, Jenny Hellström, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair and The Stray Boys.

[edit] Shopping areas

• Gamla Stan, the old town, has plenty of small stores selling souvenirs, art, handicraft and other items mainly geared towards tourists. Although there are a number of tourist traps with tacky, grossly overpriced merchandise, especially on Västerlånggatan, you can also find nice and interesting stuff. If you want a calmer experience, try Österlånggatan or any of the other streets. From late November, Stockholm's most well-known Christmas market takes place at Stortorget.

• Drottninggatan is a pedestrianised street starting at the Riksbron bridge to Gamla Stan and continuing north up to the Observatorielunden park. The section south of the Sergels torg square is dominated by stores selling tourist souvenirs and cheap clothes, and bland and bleak restaurants. Between Sergels Torg and Kungsgatan you will find the Åhléns and PUB department stores, as well as flagship stores for some national and international clothing chains. North of Kungsgatan, there are more cafés, restaurants and smaller stores.

• Norrmalmstorg, Biblioteksgatan and the southern end of Birger Jarlsgatan, together with crossing streets and the Sturegallerian shopping centre on Stureplan, form the most upscale shopping area in the city, with brands like Emporio Armani (Biblioteksgatan 3, +46 8 678 79 80), Gucci (Birger Jarlsgatan 1, +46 8 545 005 44), Hugo Boss (Birger Jarlsgatan 28, +46 8 611 42 40, Karen Millen (Biblioteksgatan 7, +46 8 611 57 06) and Louis Vuitton (Birger Jarlsgatan 17 A, +46 8 611 92 00).

• Götgatsbacken, the northernmost section of Götgatan on Södermalm, is perhaps best known for its nightlife, but also has lots of clothes stores with different profiles, including a new, small shopping centre called Bruno.

• The SoFo district [63], the cleverly rebranded area south of eastern Södermalm's Folkungagatan, has lots of designer clothes and design shops, as well as cafés and restaurants.

• The Street market [64] off Hornstulls Strand (T Hornstull) is open on some weekends. This laidback market offers designer clothes, streetstyle jewellery and a lot of other stuff. The four last weekends before Christmas there is a Christmas market.

• Stockholm Quality Outlet, Majorsvägen 2-4, Järfälla (Commuter train to Jakobsberg and then bus 567) [65]. Open M-F 11 AM-8 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM. Close to one of Stockholm's two IKEA stores, in the suburb Barkarby, rather far out northwest of the city center, you will find a factory outlet village that claims to be the first and biggest in the Nordic countries', and promises prices 30 to 60 percent lower than in the city center stores.

[edit] Selected stores

[edit] Department stores

• Åhléns City, Klarabergsgatan 50 (T T-Centralen), phone: +46 8 676 60 00 [66]. Open M-F 10 AM-8 PM, Sa 10 AM-7 PM, Su 11 AM-6 PM. A large department store in a central location, with a good selection of designer clothing brands. Also beauty products, kitchenware, interior design, records and DVDs, as well as everything else you would expect from a major department store.
• PUB, Hötorget (T Hötorget), phone: +46 8 789 19 30 [67]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM. A classic Stockholm department store founded in 1882. Following something of an identity crisis in recent years, PUB is currently undergoing a major redesign, with the intention of rebranding itself as a store for young fashion and popular culture. A few new street wear shops on the ground floor is a sign of this.
• NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Hamngatan 18-20 (T T-Centralen), phone: + 46 8 762 80 00 [68]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-6 PM, Su 12-4 PM. A large, upmarket department store popular with affluent Stockholmers of all ages. Well-known for its elaborate Christmas shop window decorations.

[edit] Shopping centers

• Gallerian, main entrance: Hamngatan 37 (T T-Centralen or T Kungsträdgården) [69]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-6 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM. A relatively large and centrally located shopping mall, where you can find many of Sweden’s major mainstream fashion chains as well as some foreign brands such as Topshop/Topman, French Connection, Esprit and United Colors of Benetton.
• Sturegallerian, main entrance: Stureplan (T Östermalmstorg) [70]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-6 PM, Su 12 AM-5 PM. Opened in 1989, Sturegallerian is the most exclusive – and expensive - shopping center in central Stockholm, with stores carrying a good selection of exclusive brands. Also the home of the upmarket restaurants Sturehof and Tures and the nightclub Sturecompagniet.
• Västermalmsgallerian, Sankt Eriksgatan 45 (T Fridhemsplan) [71]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM. Opened in 2002, Västermalmsgallerian on Kungsholmen is good-looking but relatively small.
• Ringen Ringvägen 100 (T Skanstull) [72]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 12 AM-5 PM. Fashion, home decor, restaurants and more.
• Skrapan Götgatan 78 (T Skanstull/T Medborgarplatsen) [73]. A rather small shopping centre, opened in 2007, with a number of fashion stores and a rather diverse collection of other shops, in part geared towards the students living in the skyscraper on top.
• Bruno Götgatan 36 (T Slussen). A very small indoor shopping centre with a handful of fashion stores focusing on street wear.

[edit] Suburban shopping centers and malls

There are a number of shopping centers and malls in the major suburban centers surrounding the inner city. While different in size, they all have a similar profile, with cheap restaurants, supermarkets and major fashion, electronics and interior design chain stores, as well as some smaller shops. There is no obvious reason to venture outside the city centre, except perhaps for the possibility of Sunday evening shopping at Kista Galleria when inner-city shops all have closed.

• Farsta Centrum (T Farsta) [74]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM.
• Globen Shopping (T Globen) [75]. Next the Globe Arena, Globen. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM.
• Vällingby Centrum (T Vällingby) [76]. Most stores open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM.
• Skärholmen Centrum (T Skärholmen) [77]. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM.
• Kista Galleria (T Kista) [78]. Open 10 AM-9 PM all days.

[edit] Fashion

• Weekday, Drottningatan 65 (T Hötorget), phone: +46 8 411 29 70. Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-6 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM. Olofsgatan 1 (T Hötorget), phone: +46 8 411 51 50. Open M-F 11 AM-7 PM, Sa 11 AM-5 PM, Su 12 AM-4 PM. Götgatan 21 (T Slussen), phone: +46 8 642 17 72, [79]. Open M-F 11 AM-8 PM, Sa 11 AM-6 PM, Su 12 AM-5 PM. Three stores (the Drottningatan one being the largest) with a focus on young fashion and street wear. Large assortment of the popular Swedish jeans Cheap Monday, which, surprisingly, is rather cheap.
• Sneakersnstuff. Åsögatan 124, phone: +46 8 743 03 22 [80]. Open: M-F 11 AM-6.30 PM, Sa: 11 AM-5 PM, Su 12 AM-4 PM. Passionate about sneakers, this store has a huge assortment of contemporary and classic designs, including limited-range models.
• Boutique Sportif, Kocksgatan 60 A (T Medborgarplatsen), phone: +46 8 411 12 13 [81]. Open M-F 11.30 AM-6.30 PM, Sa 11 AM-5 PM. Somewhat odd shop with a large number of very hip and rather expensive street wear brands.
• Sivletto, Malmgårdsvägen 16-18 (T Skanstull), phone: +46 8 643 39 72 [82]. Open Tu-Th noon-7 PM, Fr noon-6 PM, Sa noon-4 PM. Going through a rather anonymous door on a silent back street, down a spiral staircase leading down into a dimly lit cellar, it is hard to believe you're on the right track. But when you step down, you will find yourself in the midst of a fascinating celebration of American 1950’s culture. Retro and vintage clothes, but also a lot of other stuff from the era – as well as a hairdresser and a café. Well worth a visit just for a look around.

Some great second hand stores:

• Lisa Larsson. Bondegatan 48
• Beyond Retro. Åsögatan 144
• Emmaus. Götgatan 14
• Myrorna. Götgatan 79
• Judiths. Hornsgatan 75
• La Principessa. Rosenlundsgatan 1
• Sko dig. Hagagatan 4.
• Nu och då.Norrtullsgatan 31.
• Little shop of fashion. S:t Eriksgatan 68.
• Vilse i Garderoben. Hantverkargatan 59.

[edit] Books

• Akademibokhandeln, Mäster Samuelsgatan 28 (T T-Centralen). Stockholm's largest bookstore, with a large selection of books in English as well as many international magazines.
• Hedengrens bokhandel, Sturegallerian (T Östermalstorg) [83]. A sophisticated bookstore with books in Swedish, English and other languages. They tend more towards fine arts books than the bestsellers.
• Sweden Bookshop, Slottsbacken 10 (T Gamla Stan or T Kungsträdgården), phon: +46 8 453 78 00 [84]. Open M-F 10 AM-6 PM, Sa (July-August) 11 AM-4 PM. Whether you’re looking for a Swedish cookbook, a glossy coffe-table book on Swedish design or Swedish fiction in English translation, this is the place to go. Part of the Swedish Institute, Sweden Bookshop is a specialized bookstore that supplies a broad selection of information about Sweden and Swedish literature in English and other languages.
• Science Fiction Bokhandeln [85], Västerlånggatan 48 (T Gamla Stan). A bookshop selling science fiction, fantasy, horror, manga/anime, role-playing games, and some popular science; a lot of it is in English.

[edit] Music and media

• Pet Sounds Records, Skånegatan 53 (T Medborgarplatsen) [86]. A record store with independent pop, alternative rock and other genres of music with more cred than chart placements. A real institution among Stockholm's music fans.
• Multi Kulti, S:t Paulsgatan 3 (T Slussen), phone: +46 8 643 61 29 [87]. A small but well-stocked music store specialising in the genres popularly called "world music", with welcoming and knowledgeable staff.
• Megastore, Sergels torg (T T-Centralen), phone: +46 8 566 157 00. A large mainstream media store with all kinds of records, DVDs and computer games.
• For some odd reason, most of Stockholm’s second hand record shops are clustered in the area between Odenplan and St Eriksplan. Some examples - starting from the Odenplan end - are Cosmos Factory and Stockholms Skivbörs (both Upplandsgatan 47), Marquee Records (Odengatan 86), Runtrunt (Odengatan 90) [88], The Beat Goes On Records (St Eriksgatan 67) [89], Record Hunter (St Eriksgatan 70) [90], Skivbörsen (St Eriksgatan 71), and Atlas CD-Börs (St Eriksgatan 78). Most are open M-F 11 AM-6 PM, Sa 11 AM-3 or 4 PM.

[edit] Food and drink

• Östermalms Saluhall, Östermalmstorg (T Östermalmstorg) [91]. A market hall in a beautiful 1880s redbrick building, with all kinds of expensive food.
• Kosherian Blecher & Co, Nybrogatan 19 (T Östermalmstorg), +46 8 663 65 80 [92]. Open M-Tu, Th 11 AM-6 PM W 11 AM-9.30 PM, F 9 AM-1 hour before Shabbat; shorter opening hours during the summer. Kosherian is Stockholm's only Kosher food store. There is no Kosher restaurant in Stockholm, but Kosherian offer catering and can prepare light meals.
• Systembolaget, central locations include Lilla Nygatan 18 (T Gamla Stan), Klarabergsgatan 62 (T T-Centralen), Regeringsgatan 44 (T T-Centralen), Vasagatan 25 (T T-Centralen), Nybrogatan 47 (T Östermalmstorg), Folkungagatan 56 (T Medborgarplatsen) [93]. Generally open M-W 10 AM-6 PM, Th-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-3 PM, all stores closed Su. If you want to buy alcoholic beverages in Sweden (with the exception of low-alcohol "folköl" beer), you literally have no other choice than Systembolaget, the state-operated monopoly chain. The stores have a wide assortment and helpful, knowledgeable staff. Swedish alcohol taxation makes beer and hard liquor expensive. Surprisingly, more exclusive wines can be a bargain. A Swedish speciality is kryddat brännvin, herb-flavoured aquavit. Note that Systembolaget is not allowed to sell items chilled. You need to be able to prove that you are over 20 years old, so be sure to bring photo ID. For more information, see the section on Systembolaget in the Sweden article.

[edit] Glassware

• The large department stores Åhléns, NK and PUB (see above) all have a wide selection of glassware.
• Duka, Västerlånggatan 78, phone: +46 8 22 88 07, Sveavägen 24-26, phone: +46 8 10 45 30, Konserthuset, Kungsgatan 41, phone: +46 8 20 60 41. Duka is a Swedish chain selling both cheaper household items and a limited selection of glassware in several stores in central Stockholm.
• Nordiska Kristall, Kungsgatan 9 (T Östermalmstorg), phone: +46 8 10 43 72 and Österlånggatan 1 (T Gamla Stan), phone +46 8 10 77 18, also in Strand Hotel, Grand Hotel and City Hotel [94]. Nordiska Kristall is an exclusive shop for crystal design glass. The Kungsgatan store has an art-glass gallery.
• Orrefors & Kosta Boda, Birger Jarlsgatan 15 (T Östermalmstorg), phone: +46 8 545 040 84 [95]. Flagship store for two of Sweden's most well-known glassworks.

[edit] Furniture and design

• R.O.O.M, Alströmergatan 20 (T Fridhemsplan), phone: +46 8 692 50 00 [96] Open M-F 10 AM-6 PM, Sa 10 AM-4 PM. A large Habitat-like shop full of tasteful modern furniture, textiles and interior design, as well as kitchen utensils and garden accessories.
• Svenskt Tenn, Strandvägen 5 (T Östermalmstorg), phone: +46 8 617 16 00 [97]. Open M-F 10 AM–6 PM, Sa 10 AM–3 PM. Well known store for high-quality exclusive Swedish design. Very upmarket.
• DesignTorget, several locations, including: Kulturhuset/Sergels Torg, phone: +46 8 21 91 50, and Götgatan 31,(T Slussen) phone: +46 8 462 35 20 [98] Open M-F 10 AM-7 PM, Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su 12 AM-6 PM. A design store specialising in smaller items, ranging from the beautiful to the useful to the downright eccentric.
• Tio gruppen/Ten Swedish designers, Götgatan 25 (T Slussen) [99].
• Bolagret, Inside "Ringen", Götgatan 98. (T Skanstull) [100].
• Castor, Österlånggatan 27 (T Gamla stan)
• Village, Kungsgatan 27 (T Hötorget or T Östermalmstorg) [101].

[edit] Miscellaneous

• Coctail, Skånegatan 71 (T Medborgarplatsen), phone: +46 8 642 07 40 and Cocktail Deluxe, Bondegatan 34 (T Medborgarplatsen), phone: +46 8 642 07 41 [102]. Open M-F 11 AM-6 PM, Sa 11 AM-4 PM, Su (generally) noon-4 PM. Two rather eccentric sister stores with a collection of colourful household items and other stuff. Good for small gifts.
• Clas Ohlson, in Gallerian shopping centre, Hamngatan 37 (T T-Centralen), phone: +46 8 545 189 90 [103]. A large low-price electronics and DIY store. One of the cheaper options if you’re looking for an electric adapter, a hair dryer or some batteries.

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